Breathing Exercises to Manage Stress and Anxiety

Your breath is the remote control of your brain. Active breathing—voluntarily inhaling and exhaling to control your breathing rhythm—can calm the nervous system by reducing your heart rate and activating the parasympathetic, or the “calming” nervous system. Paying attention to your breathing is a core mindfulness practice that helps you cope with stress and anxiety.

Most people take short, shallow breaths into their chest. It can make you feel anxious and zap your energy. “Slow and low” breaths through the nose can help relieve stress and reduce blood pressure.When the diaphragm lowers, you’re allowing more air into your lungs and your body immediately switches to a relaxed state. As you exhale, you can feeling your heart slow down. It is actually the exhale part that calms the nerves and and relaxes the body.